Desk elevator



March 20, 1951 v M, FQX 2,545,949

DESK' ELEVATOR Filed July ll, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l Macaw, @mam WF/J March 20, 1951 M. Fox 2,545,949

DESK ELEvAToR Filed July 11, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gjfjg f3 Patented Mar. 20, 1951 ATENT OFFICE 2,545,949 DESK ELEvA'roR' Martin Fok, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Seng Company Application July' 11, 1945, serial No. 604,428

This invention relates to an improved adjusting device utilizing a pair of opposed wedge members, and more particularly to a device for adjustably supporting' heavy objects, such as desks, ofce machines, and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an adjustable support which is easily installed and may be adjusted at various heights without impairing the strength and rigidity of the support, or detracting from the appearance of the equipment. f

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable island type support for a desk, which will not come apart when the desk is lifted and has ample strength to withstand lateral or end thrusts which may occur through moving the desk from the oor.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of an office desk equipped with a pair of adjustable island` supports; Fig. 2, a perspective view of one of the island supports in retracted position; Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 2 in extended position; Fig. 4, a vertical sectional view of the supports in collapsed position; Fig. 5, a similar longitudinal sectional view with the top-block partially extended; Fig. 6, a vertical sectional view, taken as indicated at line 6 5 of Fig. 2; Fig. '7, a vertical sectional view, taken as indicated at line I-'I of Fig. 2; and Fig. 8, a vertical sectional view, taken as indicated at line 8 8 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment illustrated, a base-block 9, preferably made of wood, is provided at its top end portion with oppositely inclined faces III, which are flanked by shoulders II which form a guide for movable wedge members I2. The base-block may be provided with the usual antifriction domes I3, and preferably the structure is surrounded by an ornamental sheet metal skirt I4 which is secured to the base-block by screws I5. A stop I6 may be secured to one end of the block 9 by a .screw I'l to limit the outward travel of one of the Wedge members I2.

A top-block I8 is superposed on the base-block 9 and has in its lower face inclined faces I 9. which cooperate with the inclined faces I0 in the base member to form opposed wedge-shaped openings for the Wedge blocks I2. The inclined faces I9 are flanked by shoulder portions 20 which form upper lateral guides for the wedge members.

In order to keep the base-block and top-block 4 Claims. (Cl. L15-139) wedge blocks I2.

in proper registration at all times, the baseblock is provided with a pair of leader pins 2l, .which extend upwardly into registering apertures 22 in the top-block. In order to yieldingly urge the assembly together at all times, a pair of registering holes 23 are drilled through the base-block and top-block, and a kpair of tension springs 24 are inserted therein. Cross pins 25 hold the upper ends of the springs and after the top-block has been attached to the structure it is to carry, such as a desk 26, the baseblock is slipped into position and the lower ends of the springs are drawn out by means of a hooked tool and fastened over bcttom cross pins 2'I'.

A shaft 29 is provided at one end with a left hand screw thread 30 and passes through and makes threaded engagement with one of the The other end of the shaft has a right hand screw thread 3I which passes through and makes screw threaded engagement with the opposed wedge member I2. Preferably, one end of the shaft is provided with a slot 32, to receive a screw driver, and the metal skirt I4 is apertured, as indicated at 33, to permit insertion of a screw driver or key, not shown. y

desk, or the device which is to be supported, it

is merely necessary to use a screw driver to raise the desk to a desired level or to raise one island with respect to the other. It will be noted that the wedge members are widely separated, so that a firm support is provided at widely spaced points, which eliminates teetering. The leader pins take up any lateral or longitudinal thrust between the base-block and top-block, and the springs prevent the parts from becoming disassembled accidentally.

'Ihe foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, for some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A vertically adjustable island support for a desk comprising: a long, low base-block; a topblock superposed on said base-block and adapted to be secured to the bottom of a desk; guide means for maintaining said blocks in registration; and means cooperating with the base-block and top-block for controlling their spaced relationship; resilient means for holding the assembly together when it is moved about as a unit; and a protective metal skirt surrounding the base-block and top-block and secured to the base-block.

2. An elevator device for the purpose set forth, comprising: a long. low base block provided in its upper face at its end portions with short, spaced, inwardly and upwardly inclined faces; a long, low top-block provided in its lower face at its end portions with short, spaced, inwardly and downwardly inclined faces adapted to cooperate `With the inclined faces of said base block and form opposed wedge-shaped openings; a rotatable shaft between said blocks provided with right and left screw threads; a pair of wedge members in the opposed wedge-shaped openings and threaded to said shaft; guide means disposed between said wedge members for maintaining the top-block and the base-block in registered superposed position; and a pair of springs tensioned on the top block and the base block between the wedge members to yieldingly resist separation of the blocks, said springs comprising the sole means preventing separation of the blocks when the device is lifted by gripping the top block.

3. A device as specied in claim 2 wherein registering apertures extend continuously 4 through the base block and the top block, and the springs are secured to pins extending into said apertures.

4. A vertically adjustable island support for a desk comprising: a pair of long, low registering separable wooden blocks in superposed relation, one of said blocks being provided near its ends with short inclined portions so as to provide opposed wedge-shaped openings between said blocks; a pair of metal Wedge members in said openings; a shaft between said blocks making a right hand screw threaded connection with one of said members and a left hand screw threaded connection with the other member; leader pins extending between said blocks to maintain registration; and springs providing the sole means for holding the assembly together when it is lifted by gripping the top block.

MARTIN FOX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 401,368 Piper Apr. 16, 1889 525,775 Wainwright Sept. 11, 1894 872,742 Oesterle et al Dec. 3, 1907 1,407,719 Boner Feb. 28, 1922 1,794,798 Sarr Mar. 3, 1931 

